Adds a +1 to the armor bonus,though unless I'm mistaken the difference in check penalty is because of it being masterwork, not it being a +1.
The +1 of magic armor doesn't affect the max dexterity bonus of the armor.
+1 adds to the Armor Class of the shirt.
Masterwork gives -1 to the armor check penalty.
Nothing else changes.
For a shield, +1 adds to the Shield bonus. Nothing else changes.
==Aelryinth
You can make your armor out of mithril.
Are there ways to increase the max dex bonus (other than armor training fighter feature) and decrease the acp other than the masterwork (which only decreases acp)?
Celestial Mail and Celestial Plate add +4 to the Max Dex bonus. By RAW, Mithral stacks on top of this.
You'll have to negotiate with your DM on the cost of raising the armor bonus to +5, but ->MIthral->Celestial->Celestial+MIthral is the very highest level of armor advances.
There is also the Defiant bonus, which is like anti-bane...+2 to the armor or shield's AC against a specific enemy type (see Bane list). Popular for undead and demon fighters.
==Aelryinth
I think the designers weighed in on the mithral/celestial armor controversy and ruled it legal. I think.
I think the designers weighed in on the mithral/celestial armor controversy and ruled it legal. I think.
I would love a link to that, especially if it is not to the "ask JJ" thread.
Since JJ is the only one who has weighed in on it, and has specifically said NOT to take his opinion as errata, only how he'd rule it, RAW, it stands. (JJ is against mithral Celestial).
==Aelryinth
Mithral doesn't care what it's made of now, and it's not a 'special' compound. Indeed, 'silver and gold' could simply be referring to the COLORS, and probably are, as neither metal is suitable for armor.
But, whatever, you simply change the materials to mithral, apply the template, and you're done. That's all there is to it. That's how mithral works. There is no requirement that the material stays the same...celestial is a magical enhancement, not a material. There's no line in the requirements that says "Armor made of gold and silver."
I AGREE that it SHOULD BE...in essence, Celestial should be mithral armor with an enhancement on it for +2 to the dex limit...but that's not what is IS.
==Aelryinth
Where is the 'celestial' enchantment defined in RAW? It's just as valid to assert that the celestial property is a combination of special materials and magic.
If that were the case, wouldn't the special materials in question be listed somewhere? Adamantine, cold iron, and mithral are listed. Whatever you think celestial chain/plate is made of isn't. It's just as easy to assert that it's all from the magic used to create it.
It's not a material, because it would have a material template.
It was probably meant in 3.5 to be mithral Agile armor with a fly 1/day...which is basically exactly what it does, except it's not priced that way.
Regardless, there is no requirement for the armor to be made of 'silver and gold'. Mithral says, if you replace it, you get the benefits of mithral. Bing. That's RAW, and the armor would have to specifically state that the material cannot be subbed/is integral to the armor to counteract it.
As for modifying the armor...that's a GM call. It's usually priced at +3 armor, fly 1/day, and the extra is the celestial effect. The fly spell takes it below the 16k threshold of +4 armor, so that's how it works out.
==Aelryinth
Also, just because it's a specific magical armor or weapon doesn't mean you can't modify it. There are several books (Ultimate Equipment and Ultimate Campaign to name a few) that specifically state as such.
Aye, and PFS doesn't let you do it because PFS doesn't allow ANY customization or deviation from published material, for sake of controlling the campaign and keeping it simple. SO, PFS is not an argument, especially when contradicted by two books that are all about making magic items.
==Aelryinth